Tag: angels

Posted in Resurrection reflections

Now it’s about life

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“When they went in [the tomb] [the women] did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:3-6).

All four gospel accounts include angels. Their brilliant white appearance and shocking words stop the women in their tracks. Death is off the table. Now we’re talking about life.

A frequently asked question is, “But did you die?” A killer workout. A long shift at work. A painful procedure. A bank-account draining expense. A bad hair day. Burnt food. Hateful words that cut deep.

It’s like a flow chart. Did you die? No. There will be another day. Life goes on.

While it’s good to keep mortality in mind, we need frequent reminders that we’re alive. I woke up, I’m breathing, my heart is beating. I’m alive.

Now what am I going to do with this day?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

I’ll never again complain about lunch taking so long

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Duncan Sanchez on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Psalm 91.

While in Texas, we took four grandchildren to lunch at Panera last week. Tw o of them had bowls of soup, one had the macaroni and cheese, and the fourth went with grilled cheese.

I couldn’t believe how slowly they ate! It took every bit of forty-five minutes for them to enjoy a nice relaxing lunch. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’ve just never seen anyone eat a potato chip in six separate bites. I grab a few and pop them in mouth. Rather than a whole spoonful of soup, which wasn’t that hot, the olders scooped very small amounts of soup with their spoons. Mac and cheese? One small noodle at a time. Unless she decided to eat that noodle in three bites.

We weren’t in a hurry, had lots of things to talk about, and enjoyed our time together. Afterwards, we headed towards a Target to pick up a few things. As we approached the turn in, I saw two banged up cars waiting for the police to arrive. A minute sooner and it could have been us. I said, “I’ll never again complain about lunch taking so long.”

The psalmist writes

He will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
 On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:11,12)

Forget about a guardian angel. I’m thankful for a bunch of them taking care of me. And here’s the fascinating thing. Most of the time, I’m not even aware of their presence and protection. The bad stuff that could have happened doesn’t. So I go on with my life, oblivious to their efforts.

In the bible, angels sing, deliver messages, praise God, fight battles, and take care of us in ways we can hardly understand. Thank you, Lord, for letting us linger over lunch.

Posted in Advent devotions

Sheep, shepherds, and angels

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Patrick Schneider on Unsplash

The scriptures are full of sheep and shepherds.

Abel tended sheep. Abraham had sheep. Jacob knew how to breed sheep. Moses tended his father-in-law’s flock of sheep. David worked as a shepherd. Job had large flocks of sheep. Jerusalem had a designated sheep gate.

“And in the same region (Bethlehem) there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'” (Luke 2:8-14)

Were the shepherds the first to hear of Christ’s birth? Not really. God promised it in Genesis 3:15. Isaiah spoke about a child who would be born to assume the throne of David. Mary and Joseph both heard it from angels. Magi learned of it in the stars.

But on that actual night when Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid him in a manger, the angel and all the other angels brought the announcement to the shepherds in the Bethlehem hills. Angels are always around. They were present when God created the heavens and the earth. They spent an afternoon in Abraham’s tent. They climbed and descended the ladder to heaven in Jacob’s dream. They shut the lions’ mouths to save Daniel in the lion’s den. They ministered to Jesus after his temptation in the desert. They were on alert but stood down when the mob came to arrest Jesus in Gethsemane. They were at the empty tomb to let the women know that Jesus was alive on the third day. The angles will accompany him when he comes again in glory.

Angels are always around, we just don’t get to see and hear them like the Bethlehem shepherds. Not yet, anyway. They’ll be there when we join them and all creatures to praise and worship him (Revelation 5:13).

The shepherds who heard the angels went to see the baby, and then went and told what they had seen. They become some of the first to witness the incarnation and proclaim it. So let’s give them an ornament on the Jesse Tree.

Posted in Advent devotions

Just keep praying

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Julie Wolpers on Unsplash

When Daniel revealed the meaning of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay that was toppled by a divine stone, he had no idea he’d live to see that dream come true. In Daniel’s lifetime, Babylon falls to the Medes, and King Darius takes over.

What did Daniel do in the meantime? He knelt down and prayed three times a day. It was no secret. Everyone knew it. As kingdoms fell and rose, Daniel’s devotion remained constant.

I believe it’s important to nurture your spiritual disciplines when life is good, so that when there are challenges, your spiritual muscle memory keeps you on track.

What did Daniel do when his colleagues conspired against him? What did Daniel do when the king decreed he couldn’t pray to his God? “He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously” (Daniel 6:10). His circumstances may have changed, but his habits didn’t.

King Darius had no choice. He wrote the law. He prescribed the consequences. He had to throw Daniel into the lions’ den.

Do you know what happened? (A lot of you do.) Darius didn’t get any sleep. Daniel got to see an angel! “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths” (Daniel 6:21). Someone had an amazing night!

I want to see an angel. But do I want to see one in the same context as Daniel? I’m not so sure about that. I’ve seen lions tear into a piece of beef at the zoo. I don’t want to be the next meal.

On the other hand, if angels show up where there are lions, then maybe…just maybe…I’ll check into the lion Airbnb.

What if angels only show up when the going gets tough? What if you only get to see angels when the whole world seems to be against you? What if an angelic presence requires the presence of a carnivore with big teeth and a loud roar?

What if…? I could ask that question all day. Life is filled with “What if’s?” What if your prayers bring you to a place with lions and angels? I could live with that!

Daniel gets an ornament on the Jesse Tree as a reminder that we can depend on god to save us from lions, from sin, death, and the power of the devil.

Posted in Advent devotions

Running towards God

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Cesar Cid on Unsplash

What a nightmare! Jacob pretends to be his brother Esau so his father will give him the blessing of the first born son. Esau is steamed, plotting to kill his brother. Mom tells Jacob to run away to his uncle’s house.

What a dream! With nothing but a rock for a pillow, Jacob goes to sleep under the stars. In his dream, he sees a ladder stretching up to heaven, crowded with angels going up and down. At the top of the ladder, he sees the Lord, who connects the covenant promise of a Savior to Jacob and his offspring (Genesis 28:13,14).

When he wakes up, Jacob says, “The Lord is here!” He thought he was running away. But he was actually running towards the plans and promises of God.

There are plenty of things in life we’d like to run away from. Who wants to be around angry people, dangerous places, past mistakes, and hurtful words?

But in stead of running away, let’s think of it as running towards our Lord. After all, God’s always a step ahead of us with protection, provision, and powerful promises. (How’s that for alliteration?)

Jacob gets an ornament on the Jesse Tree, heir of God’s promise of a Savior.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

“What are you doing here?”

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Sam Solomon on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 27 and 28.

“The Lord is certainly in this place, and I did not know it” (Genesis 28:16).

I think it’s interesting that Jacob thought that he was leaving God behind when he ran away from home. After disguising himself as his Esau get his father’s blessing, his older brother is ready to kill him. Mom says, “Why don’t you go away until he cools off. You can go visit your uncle Laban.” (Genesis 27:43,44)

When Jacob wakes up from a vivid dream about angels, a ladder, and God himself, he’s amazed. “How about that? I never expected to find God out here in the middle of nowhere.”

When someone mentions a “house of God” I immediately think of a church building. But sometimes I talk to him while I’m out walking the dog. Yes, the dog will sometimes glance up at me like I’m crazy. I have to assure her, “Just keep walking; I’m not talking to you.”

I’ll chat with God in the car, imagining him riding shotgun. With the way other people are driving, I’ll often ask for a couple of extra angels to get me safely to my destination.

I’ve heard folks comment that they feel close to God when they are out walking through the woods or sitting out on the beach watching the ocean, or looking up into the night sky.

Jacob, however, wonders, “What are you doing here?” Rather than feeling blessed, Jacob’s deception has made a mess of his life. In moments like that, you might think that God really doesn’t want anything to do with you. But that’s never the case. Rather, he’s the one we can be certain will never abandon us.

Posted in angels

A front yard angel takes a knee

Posted on by William Douthwaite

The front yard angel keeps a silent, steady watch over the house. Day and night, rain or shine, through blistering heat and hurricane winds, this angel’s vigil never fails.

Though the dogs and I often walk by this house, I’ve never met the folks who live here. Do you think there’s a story behind this angel?

  • Scripture reminds us that the Lord “will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Angels are rarely seen, so we may forget about their presence. A small statue can be a powerful reminder of angelic protection. This home doubles down with a security light and camera. You can’t be too careful.
  • It looks like there used to be a tree where this angel sits. Maybe that tree fell and narrowly missed the house. Something knocked out that boarded-up window in the background. Good luck? Coincidence? Or supernatural protection? Never forget the probability of that last one.
  • With eyes closed, head bowed, and hands folded, this angel takes a knee in prayer. The angels of the bible make announcements, fight battles, blow trumpets, and proclaim praises. I don’t remember any who prayed. But they do bow in worship.

I’ve seen many statues of Mary, St. Francis preaching to birds and squirrels, a few lions, and an Easter island guy. But I’m pretty sure this is the only angel I’ve seen in my neighborhood.

I’m glad this statue is here. It reminds me For me of angels in the bible. Like the ones going up and down in Jacob’s dream. Or the angels who saved Daniel by shutting the mouths of lions. Or the angels who proclaimed the birth of Christ to the shepherds. Or the angels sitting at the empty tomb who told the women, “He is not here; he has risen!”

Posted in 2021 Advent devotions

The heavenly host

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“The Road to Bethlehem” Advent devotion for December 16, 2021. Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:13-14)

Suddenly, the road to Bethlehem is crowded. In an instant, the shepherds and the angels are joined by the heavenly host, the army of God. Just as they have always surrounded the Lord’s throne with their praises (Isaiah 6, Revelation 5), so they are now stationed at a different kind of throne, a manger in Bethlehem.

We’ve caught glimpses of them before. Jacob saw them going up and down the stairs to heaven. They escorted the prophet Elijah to heaven. Another prophet, Elisha saw them surrounding an enemy army.

Later, they would minister to Jesus after his temptation in the wilderness. They would be on standby when Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane. A few would remain at the tomb to let the women know that he had risen, just as he said.

The presence of the angels on the road to Bethlehem are a sure sign that the Lord is near, the Lord has come, and God is with us.

The psalmist tells us that the Lord is enthroned on the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3). Wherever God’s people gather to pray, praise and give thanks, the heavenly host will be nearby, too. They are surrounding us with protection. They are on standby, just in case we stumble and need them. In Holy Communion, where an altar in the sanctuary becomes his throne, they join in our praises. Suddenly, church is very crowded as “With angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify his glorious name, saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy!'”

What the shepherds saw with their eyes that night, we see by faith, firmly believing our Lord’s promise to be with us. What the shepherds saw that night, we will also see one day when we join a great multitude that no one can number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, praising God around his heavenly throne.

I praise you Lord, accompanied by the heavenly host, knowing that you are near. Give me a 20/20 faith, as I anticipate seeing you with my eyes one day. Amen.

Posted in advent, Advent devotions, Devotions

2020 Advent devotion: A multitude of the heavenly host

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Gabriel on Unsplash

“Live and in person” Advent devotion for December 23, 2020. Read Luke 2:10-14 and Psalm 9.

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:12-14)

When Isaiah had his vision of the Lord in his throne room, there were angels flying around, praising him. When John has his visions in Revelation, there are myriads of angels around the throne, praising the Lamb (Rev. 5:11,12). After Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, angels were there to minister to him (Mark 1:12). When the mob came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, he told them he could easily summon twelve legions of angels to help him (Matthew 26:53). In fact, there was one there in the garden to strengthen him through his agonizing prayers (Luke 22:43). So it makes perfect sense for angels to show up when Mary gives birth to her firstborn in Bethlehem and laid him in a manger. Of course they were there. The angels are part of Jesus’ entourage or security detail. They might not always be in sight. But that night they were, and their praise was in high gear!

I wonder what these angels thought of this event. Suddenly, they’re assigned to an infant. Their praises are not heard in a sold-out concert hall, but by a few shepherds out in the Bethlehem hills. Even in this humble setting, he is still the Lord and worthy of their praise.

The angels next big assignment would be at the tomb where the stone has been rolled away and a few friends of Jesus discover that he has been raised from the dead. That’s right, they pretty much only show up for Christmas and Easter! But they always come with big news: the Savior has come and the Savior is back!

Every once in a while, people catch a glimpse of an angel or hear their voice. Their stories are always powerful. They are ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). The angels are never that far away. But that reminds us that our Lord is never far away, either!

We hear the Christmas angels,
The great glad tidings tell.
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel.

Thank you, Lord, for the angels, who lead us in praising you for your birth, your resurrection and your return. Amen.